NSW minister Dominic Perrottet endorses Uber and Airbnb

A senior NSW cabinet minister has endorsed ride-sharing service Uber and home-sharing app Airbnb by saying "governments should not stand in the way" of them despite both services being under scrutiny by his government.

NSW Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet said in a speech on Thursday night at Sydney's Intersect showcase that the apps – part of what he called the "collaboration economy" – were a good thing for society.

NSW minister Dominic Perrottet has endorsed Uber and Airbnb.

"As someone on the Liberal side of politics, we should welcome the sharing economy as something profoundly conservative," Mr Perrottet said.

He's even asked the Office of Finances and Services to consider using a car-pooling scheme for government employees using such apps and services, because he said they could help "drive savings".

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"This is the free market on steroids. It's individuals, or businesses, seeking to make the best use of their existing assets, for a profit. It's being an entrepreneur at a grassroots level. It's a mix of technology, trust and low-cost options to effectively meet demand – and it's all done without government intervention."

The sharing economy was "here to stay", he added.

"The more people move online and take up social, mobile and reputational platforms, the more this is going to grow. It's an efficient use of resources and the uptake so far already shows that the market has spoken. My view is that governments should not stand in the way of this change but seek to facilitate it."

On Friday, Roads and Maritime Services confirmed it was continuing enforcement action for drivers who are found to be breaching the Passenger Transport Act 1990.

"Fines already issued have been paid," a Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson said.

It is understood Mr Perrottet is making his views known to cabinet colleagues, including Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian.

Mr Perrottet said it was no surprise that "most left-wing jurisdictions like New York" cracked down on sharing economy companies. He did not mention the NSW government was cracking down on them too.

"This is because they are stuck in the old world of heavy regulation, union dominance, high fees, high taxes and inflated prices that please no one but those at the top who reap a profit," Mr Perrottet said of New York and other governments that had not embraced the new services.

My view is that governments should not stand in the way of this change but seek to facilitate it.

NSW Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet

"The sharing economy presents an opportunity for conservatives, if they are savvy enough to see it."